You Can Tell You're at a REAL Auto Parts Store When...

This is a HUGE pet peeve of mine. Can't stand the glassy stare I get when the goober behind the counter can't find the part on account of it ain't on his damned computer - this is true at 90% of the chains.

So - for the benefit of the HAMB, here's a Foxworthy-esque list of how to identify that you're in the right kinda place:

You Can Tell You're at a REAL Auto Parts Store When...

1) It don't share it's parking lot with a gourmet grocery store.
2) The parking lot is dirt.
3) There are actual, Honest-to-God counter guys.
4) You can pronounce their names.
5) There isn't an entire section of the store dedicated to car covers, seat covers, and steering wheel covers.
6) Neon is nowhere in sight.
7) There's a machine shop out back.
8) The only 'zone' in sight is the loading zone.
9) Dormann fastner drawers - LOTS of em.
10) You ask for stuff - you don't 'special order' anything. It just shows up, and ya pay for it.

Help me out on this - there's gotta be a few dozen more...

 

ALmost, almost reminds me of Topps in Anaheim, CA

 

When all the people there know how to use those "paper computers" (old guys called them "books") for the part you need.

 

Ohhh and they don't use computers. They STILL have a counter dedicated to parts books. They carry NOS parts under 20 years of dust on the 3rd shelve in the back for your 58 Chevy. They remember you when you were knee high to a grasshopper and can recognize your voice when you call. You've spent SO much money, that they sell to you wholesale. If they don't have that odd accessory part......you break down and cry because you are forced to visit one of those "OTHER" stores.

Now that's a parts store that's worthy of a quick dial number on my cell phone........even my own mother isn't in my phone.

 

When they remember your year and make and call you by your name....

 

............there is the wonderfull smell of parts cleaner and old grease in the air, not cocconut air fresheners.

 

1/3 of O'Reillys are like that. Don't go in after 5, always ask for the dealer counter. (the guys in the back who have been counter jockeys for 20 years)

It gets worse every time I go in.

 

1. there is a dog in the store
2. they don't glaze over when you ask about a y block
3. they don't thinka hemi is something their dad had an operation for
4. they have grease under their nails
5. the owner smokes in the store and "don't give a shit about what the gobermint says he can't do"
6. they know your NAME and what you drive
7. they have heard of motors other than a sbc350, ford5.0

 

Free Chips And Coffe.
Wore Out Old Drag Racing Times Magazines
A Box Full Of Old Shit Marked Free
Hound Dog Asleep On Hte Floor Next To The Wood Burning Stove.

 

They keep barstools at the counter because they just KNOW you'll be there shootin the shit for a while.

 

thats white's carquest. ol man white used to live across the street from me. now its all corporate.

 

1. Has pictures of customers projects posted or under glass on the counter.
2. Knows you.
3. Gave you a hat at one time or another.

 

ACTUALLY, it is MY local Carquest. Hahaha that's funny.......but I'd DIE without them.

 

They know common parts that fit numerous years..."Gimme a 180 stat and a set of valve cover gaskets for a small Chevy" gets you PARTS, not "What year and does it have power steering..."

 

when the guy behind the counter does not have to ask you what points and a condsener are and what they do

 

They know what a VW Type 1 is.You ask for a radiator cap for a 1961 Volkswagen Type 1 and they dont fall for it.

 

11) When you're not at Schuck's, Kragen, Checker, Auto Zone or Pep Boys.

I usually find that the parts guys at these places got fired from Taco Bell.

 

makes sense my pep boys and krage are right across the street from taco bell.

 

...when they have the belts, hoses and brakelines out in front of the counters, same goes for plugs...I have asked for a fanbelt by NUMBER and the kid asked me what it was for...I told him a 350 Chevy, he asks what year car, i tell him '46, he says the computers don't go back that far...yeah, I know, that's why i gave ya the NUMBER!!!!!!

 

i guess i've never been to a "real" parts store then...advance auto is the best i can get

 

I like the places that have a shelf with exploded engine parts and ruptured rear ends for you to ponder over. They usually have a shelf of used speed equipment too. The big 1/2 full ashtray and stool at the counter is usually a plus. Talk to the guy in the grease stained overalls with the dirty shop rag in his back pocket. He's the one that knows what you need. The only thing the kid at the counter knows is that the blonde parts chaser won't put out...

 

At a REAL parts store you just Tell the Old timer behind the counter what you're going to be doing (i.e. - change a SBC to a front sump) a
nd they already know what parts you need, what car they origionally came on, and what year.

 

Actually had a MANAGER at a local Pep Boys REFUSE to help me because I told him what SIZE fan belt I needed. He asked what it was going on, and I told him the alternator bracket was aftermarket, so it's not a standard fit. He just walked back to his desk without even saying another word! Luckily the O'Reilly dude across the street at least made an effort to get me what I needed.

Another for the list:
When they know you know what you need and invite you back to the holy-of-holys behind the counter to get it yourself.

 

Damn I hate 98% of all parts stores, luckily I've got a friend that works for Bumper 2 bumper, he's really into mopars and knows his parts well. I told him I'm building a model A and needed a master cylinder to run below my wheel cylinders. He asked me for the for all the measurements of the brakes (drum size & wheel cylinder boar...) then he looked through all the books for the closet master cylinder for those measurements...and now the H-bomb stops just fine.

 

1. The owner will deliver the parts
2. Farmers buy parts for their tractors there.
3. They can rebuild your generator/starter/alternator in the back.
4. Grandma is the accountant.
5. Your receipt is hand written.
6. The man behind the counter is named "Gene, Al, or Paul" not "Zac, Conner or Trizle-my-nizzle".
7. The air conditioning is a door wide open and a desk fan
8. The trash cans are filled with v-belts, pcv valves and distributor caps not chrome door edging wrappers, empty Von Dutch Energy Drink bottles, and used XXX (the Movie) air fresheners
9. Customers have names like "Breeze".
10. The front window display case contains 70's chrome goodies from Mr. Gasket not plastic shit from APC.

 

...when the books they look up parts in have as much grease on them as your hands do.
...when they ask you WHICH car you're working on today.
...when there are ASHTRAYS(filled with cigarette butts)on the counters.
...when you nearly trip over a set of brake drums laying in front of the counter that have been brought in to be turned.
...when you can't see the top of the owner's desk because of all the papers on it.
...when you are on a first name basis with the store dog and he doesn't growl at you or try to take your leg off.
...when the term,"electronic control unit" applies only to a voltage regulator or a ballast resistor.
...when the condenser that is laying innocently on the counter has been charged up for the unwary to pick up.
...when the exchange of four letter words ceases when a female walks into the place.

Can I stop now?

 

Exactly!!!! Happens just that way all the time.

I was just in Kragen a couple of weeks ago looking for plug wires for the Chevy 194 going in Lil Say-Ten. The guy asked what car and year. I tried to make it easy and said '64 Chevy II. He proceeded to tell me about his Nova...a '74. Not giving a shit, I told him I didn't really have a Nova, that's just what the motor is. You'd have thought I'd told him that his dealer was out of meth by his blank stare. I tried to explain that the motor was from a Nova, but was now in something else. He asked what it was...still very confused. I said it was a '31 DeSoto. Then came... "Sorry, our computers don't go back that far." Trying not to strangle him, I said, "OK, then I DO have a '64. Can I get my plug wires now?" Even more confused he re-looked up the '64 and gave me the wires.

God damn people are idiots! I really hate humans.

 

If you live in the SF Bay Area, Monument Auto Parts can't be beat. It's a REAL parts store where the guys are smart enough to cross-reference, but can usually tell you the part number right from their head.

 

I, for one, salute Auto Zone and Pep Boys for hiring the handicapped.

When it comes to CarQuest and Napa, the inconsistency drives me nuts. I've got 3 Napa stores within 5 miles of my house; one has topnotch parts availability and counter staff, but no services. One has a machine shop and hot tank, but you can't count on them to have any parts. The third just basically sucks.

 

When the store has wood floors worn into ruts leading to the counter openings waterproofed from years of oil drippings.

When the counter is covered with sheetmetal and the galvanized coating is long gone in the center from shuffleing cores back and forth for years.

When there is a full service machine shop in the basement.

When the front of the counter is covered with all the good local mechanics cards because they all shop there too.

When they have a brass fitting cabinet that is 8 foot long and they let you root through it for an hour while you design the system in your head.